Search - Ray in Reverse

In the Last Words group in Heaven, Ray Williams--dead from cancer at the too-young age of fifty--relives small vignettes from his life, one per chapter, in reverse chronological order. The result, along with Daniel Wallace being a brilliant observer and incredibly intelligent with his choice of details to write about, is a poignant and sweet story about an Everyman and the ups and downs of his life.

I enjoyed this book in small bits, not as an entity: it is better read as a collection of short stories, and would only hurt your brain if you try to think of how it works (or whether it works) as a novel. As I said, Wallace's skill lies in the details and the way he so easily makes minor characters come to life. Not a bad choice for nostalgic nights in front of the fireplace.

Ray Williams is embarrassed in Last Words group where everyone in heaven recounts the last thing they said on earth, he didn't even finish his sentence. Then he reflects on the rest of his life and finds it didn't measure up either, he thinks back on his entire life, going all the way back to his childhood - when he actually was happy.